They’re Back! Sniffany and the Nits Return

Rejoice, fans of snotty punky eccentricity, for the mighty Sniffany & The Nits are back. Forget Charli XCX, it’s gonna be a punky brat summer. I love the galloping tempo and snarky vocals. It’s a bit old school, a bit forward-facing, and altogether wonderful. It’s always exciting to see what they do. https://sniffanyandthenits.bandcamp.com

New Old Release: The Cramps- TV Set

Henry Rollins and Ian Mackaye have, as lifelong fans of The Cramps, managed to unearth some lost gems from the band’s back catalogue and are releasing them through the band’s Vengeance Records. It’s a dream come true, and a real passion project for the pair. All hail the mighty Cramps, gone, but now resurrected. Huzzah!Continue reading “New Old Release: The Cramps- TV Set”

Film Review : Billy Idol Should Be Dead

When I was a kid, Billy Idol epitomised the naughty boy we all fancied. He was always a bit cheeky, but we knew that. What we didn’t know was that he was also a heroin addict. Jonas Akerlund’s documentary about the former William Broad, who grew up in Bromley and reinvented himself as “punk” singerContinue reading “Film Review : Billy Idol Should Be Dead”

Great Style Never Fades

Some looks are timeless. Here are a few icons providing that some ideas are classic-from really simple, to flamboyant. Top: Prince in his ruffled regal pomp. A still from the film ‘Purple Rain’ in 1984. This was the soundtrack and film that made him a global superstar. Below: this picture features the wonderful Debbie HarryContinue reading “Great Style Never Fades”

A Kathy Acker Playlist

I’ve been reading the great Kathy Acker again, someone whose blunt, unvarnished prose is like steel and concrete. She’s timeless because Americans are, as we are in the UK too, struggling to make ends meet. Her books represent the desperation, the lost love, family stress, romantic disappointments and the defiance of those who slipped throughContinue reading “A Kathy Acker Playlist”

Lost In Music: ESG- UFO (1980)

The three sisters – Emerald, Sapphire and Gold- aka the Scroggins sisters (there were actually five initially) made minimal music for the dancefloor, which wasn’t concerned with melody, but rhythm. ‘UFO’ really broke the mould though, with its disturbing space age noise, eerie scraping sonics juxtaposed with a killer funk bass line. It was excessivelyContinue reading “Lost In Music: ESG- UFO (1980)”

EP Review: Problem Patterns – Boring Songs For Boring People

One of Belfast ‘s finest are back with this ironically titled gem. Beverly Boal, Bethany Crooks, Ciara King and Alanah Smith make frenetic, furious queer punk with a wicked sense of humour. This time round, they’re joined by Pissed Jeans’ Matt Korvette for the hypercharged ‘Sad Old Woman’. Meanwhile, their addition to the BBC playlistContinue reading “EP Review: Problem Patterns – Boring Songs For Boring People”

Album Reviews: Otoboke Beaver- Live At Taku Taku/Live At Fandango

What’s better than one live Otoboke Beaver album? Two live ones. The Japanese “knock out or pound cake” band are one of the world’s most exciting live acts, with fans like Dave Grohl and Jack White, and now their massive whirlwind of sound has been captured in show form. And they’re both, unsurprisingly, excellent inContinue reading “Album Reviews: Otoboke Beaver- Live At Taku Taku/Live At Fandango”

Album Review: Anna Secret Poet- I Saw This And Thought Of You

Friend of Hit The North and all -round legend Anna Secret Poet is back with arguably her most epic album to date. There’s some introspection wrapped in a piledriving anthem (‘Aimless’) a soupcon of cheeky country grunge with ricocheting guitars (‘ Old Unfaithful ‘) and the typical eccentricity we’ve come to associate with her songContinue reading “Album Review: Anna Secret Poet- I Saw This And Thought Of You”

Happy 80th Birthday, Debbie Harry!

How’s it possible? How can it be? Angela Trimble, better known as Debbie Harry, turned 80 on the 1st of July. Belated birthday greetings to a true icon, the NYC goddess with sun in her hair, fiery attitude, intelligence and an incredible voice. She has it all, and she’s influenced countless artists. We’re always touchedContinue reading “Happy 80th Birthday, Debbie Harry!”